Facts and Traditions

UE is a fully-accredited, private, liberal arts and sciences based university affiliated with the United Methodist Church.

Learning Spaces

Learning Spaces at The Oval

Adjacent to the Sesquicentennial Oval, three buildings — Olmsted Administration Hall, Hyde Hall, and Krannert Hall of Fine Arts — are highly visible academic spaces at the University's front door. In contrast to the recently completed Schroeder School of Business Building, these buildings are not supportive of a twenty-first century learning environment.

With appropriate renovations and potential new construction, these buildings can become strong assets for student and faculty learning, recruitment, and retention.

Olmsted Administration Hall

Nearing 100 years old, Olmsted Administration Hall is a beautiful facility that is showing its age. Establishing an iconic presence for the University, Olmsted Administration Hall serves as the institution's primary front door. The planning team documents the following conditions to be addressed through renovation:

The facility is not fully ADA accessible.

MEP systems are functional but in poor condition.

Building enclosure system is functional but in need of upgrade.

Deferred maintenance is readily apparent in the facility.

Program should be thoughtfully considered to take advantage of this building's campus presence.

Hyde Hall

Prominently located just west of Olmsted Administration Hall off the Sesquicentennial Oval, Hyde Hall is a general classroom building that also houses many of the University's performing art programs, including Shanklin Theatre. The planning team documents the following conditions to be addressed through renovation and additions:

MEP system does not function properly and is too loud.

Numerous acoustic interior and exterior issues.

Building enclosure system is functional but in need of upgrade.

Facility does not foster a higher education learning environment.

Facility feels unkempt and uncared-for and is not a recruiting asset.

Teaching spaces are outdated, inadequate, and poorly organized.

Krannert Hall of Fine Arts

Located directly west of Hyde Hall, Krannert Hall of Fine Arts is home to fine arts and music programs, including Wheeler Concert Hall. The planning team documents the following conditions to be addressed through renovation and additions:

Learning environment lacks quality and hinders recruitment.

Inadequate acoustics for music study's programs.

The facility is not fully ADA accessible.

MEP system does not function properly and is too loud.

Building enclosure system is functional but in need of upgrade.

Hyde/Krannert Expansion

New Construction ($250/SF)
Total Area = 12,000 GSF
Cost Range: $3.0 M

Fostering a greater degree of in-classroom collaboration requires more area per student than traditional classroom design. Given the outdated learning environments in both Krannert Hall of Fine Arts and Hyde Hall, the planning team believes there may be an increased need for space. In the event this scenario holds true, the planning team envisions an expansion linking the two buildings. Such an addition could serve as both overflow space and provide a dynamic learning commons setting unifying all aspects of humanities studies.

Learning Spaces at the East Terrace Lawn

The East Terrace Lawn is adjacent to two academic buildings, Graves Hall and the Bower-Suhrheinrich Library. Both are in need of renovation and modernization to accommodate the needs of today's students and the quickly changing methods of instruction, learning, and studying.

Bower-Suhrheinrich Library

The Bower-Suhrheinrich Library is located along the south side of the East Terrace Lawn, and directly adjacent to a major north-south pedestrian walkway. A complex comprised of multiple buildings, the library's environment provides students a desirable quiet alternative study space to the more socially active Ridgway University Center.

The planning team documents the following conditions to be addressed through renovation and additions:

Facility feels "cold," has dull colors, and needs updating.

Furniture is not comfortable.

Air quality smells moldy.

Atmosphere needs be more like the Ridgway University Center.

Need more access to power outlets for laptop computers.

Should be expanded with more study rooms.

Hours should be extended like those of the Ridgway University Center.

Graves Hall

Located along the north side of the East Terrace Lawn and to the south of Walnut Street, Graves Hall is a highly visible facility. Home to the University's health sciences programs, Graves Hall contains labs, classrooms, and faculty offices. The planning team documents the following conditions to be addressed through renovation and additions: